There are a number of Los Angeles Lakers legends populating the top of the NBA\u2019s all-time scoring list. Of course, current Lakers superstar LeBron James is at the top of the list with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O\u2019Neal are also in the top 10. However, O\u2019Neal recently moved down one spot as he was surpassed by current Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden on Monday night.<\/p>\n
Harden has proven himself to be one of the greatest scorers of this generation with his outstanding 3-point shooting and his ability to get to the rim almost at will due to his excellent ball-handling. Harden finished with 32 points in the Clippers\u2019 victory over the Charlotte Hornets and with that, moved ahead of Shaq into ninth on the all-time scoring list.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, Harden spoke highly of the Lakers legend, noting that he grew up watching Shaq as a Southern California native and calling it a an honor to surpass him, via NBA on X<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cShaquille O\u2019Neal somebody that I literally grew up watching, being from LA. Him and Kobe doin their thing, winning multiple championships. The most dominant big man in the history of the game. It\u2019s a true honor, it\u2019s a testament to the work that I\u2019ve put in and it\u2019s all glory to God.\u201d<\/p>\n Harden was born in Los Angeles and attended Artesia High School in Lakewood, so he was able to witness the greatness and dominance of O\u2019Neal right in his backyard. As he said, Shaq was the most dominant big man most have ever seen, and was unguardable, especially in his prime on those early-2000s Lakers teams alongside Kobe Bryant.<\/p>\n Should Harden continue to produce at this level for a couple more seasons, he can still move higher on this list and potentially pass another Lakers legend in Wilt Chamberlain, as well as Dirk Nowitzki, though current Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant is also ahead of Harden and still scoring at a clip that will make it tough for Harden to catch him.<\/p>\n Harden has enjoyed a truly special career and is still one of the best players in the league at 36 years old. Any time you are in the realm of an all-time great like Shaq, it is a truly special accomplishment.<\/p>\n Lakers\u2019 LeBron James humbled by 23rd NBA season jersey patch <\/p>\n It is still James at the top of that all-time scoring list and he continues to create separation by still being great in his 23rd NBA season. In fact, LeBron is the only player ever to even play 23 years in the league and in honor of that, a special 23rd NBA season jersey patch was created by Topps, which he admitted was humbling to see<\/a>.<\/p>\n